Where does “boast” come from?

Boast comes from Middle English boosten, derived from Middle English bost, which developed from Proto-Germanic bausuz, ultimately traced to Proto-Indo-European bʰew-.

boast (English): A brag; ostentatious positive appraisal of...

Definitions

  1. A brag; ostentatious positive appraisal of...

Ancestry of “boast”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishbostento threaten
2Middle Englishbostboast, glory, noise, arrogance, presumption,...
3Anglo-Normanbost—
4Proto-Germanicbausuzinflated; swollen; puffed up; proud; arrogant;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

Words derived from “boast”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- →
boast — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer